Patriots take hit with loss of Blount

Running back LeGarrette Blount is lost to Pittsburgh, while center Ryan Wendell is retained.

Glen FarleyEnterprise Staff Writer

All across New England, countless Patriots fans awoke this morning facing the same dilemma.

What to do with that Blount Force Trauma t-shirt hanging in the closet?

Traumatic?

Maybe not, but the Patriots’ running game took a hit Friday when LeGarrette Blount traveled to Pittsburgh and never left, signing a two-year contract with the Steelers that multiple reports put at $3.85 million.

Who said the 250-pounder wasn’t a breakaway back?

While the Patriots lost one free agent they did manage to retain another, signing starting center Ryan Wendell to a two-year contract at a maximum worth of $8.15 million, according to multiple reports.

It certainly wouldn’t have broken the bank for the Patriots to retain Blount, but his departure is in keeping with the organization’s policy of putting a limit on just how much it is willing to invest in its running backs.

There’s no question that Blount’s departure throws the Patriots’ ground game for a loss, though, depriving them of a player whose late-season charge led him to finish the 2013 season with 772 yards, one shy of Stevan Ridley’s team-leading 773.

Blount continued his burst onto the scene in the playoffs, setting a franchise record by rushing for four touchdowns in the Patriots’ 43-22 divisional playoff win over Indianapolis before he and the rest of the team were silenced in a 26-16 loss at Denver in the 2013 AFC Championship Game.

While Blount’s run in New England lasted all of one year, if it’s any consolation he arrived at a nominal cost, acquired from Tampa Bay last April in exchange for Jeff Demps, the return man-running back who seems more interested in running track than in running with the football, and a seventh-round draft pick.

With Blount removed from the equation, the Patriots’ depth chart is now topped by Ridley, Shane Vereen and Brandon Bolden – all younger than the 27-year-old Blount, yes, but all currently in line to become free agents in 2015.

At this point, the fumble-prone Ridley must be considered the favorite to regain his lead back role, no doubt a frightening thought to many in these parts.

Blount’s signing with the Steelers continues a recent run on running backs that’s seen Knowshon Moreno move from Denver to Miami and Maurice Jones-Drew leave Jacksonville for Oakland.

The 28-year-old Wendell came up the hard way.

Originally signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Fresno State in 2008, Wendell was twice released and signed back to their practice squad before making his way to the active roster on Dec. 31, 2009.

Wendell moved into the middle of the Patriots’ offensive line at the outset of the 2012 season and while he’s been reliable – he’s started the team’s last 36 games (32 regular season, four postseason) – his play this past year was nothing more than adequate.

His return does give the Patriots the opportunity to open the 2014 season with the same starting offensive line for the third straight year: Wendell, with Logan Mankins and Dan Connolly at the guard positions and Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer as the two tackles.

Glen Farley may be reached at gfarley@enterprisenews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @GFarley_ent.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.